Hooks Notebook: 04.21.06

Hooks catcher/first baseman J.R. House set a franchise record by
hitting safely in his 14th consecutive game. House was 0 for 2 on
Thursday before lacing a single up the middle in the sixth inning to
give him a hit in every game this season.

Josh Anderson had set the previous record of 13 straight games last
season.

MUECKE TO HOUSTON

Left-hander Josh Muecke left the Hooks on Thursday to go to Houston
and have his injured left wrist examined by Astros medical personnel.
Hooks manager Dave Clark said Muecke is expected to rejoin the team in
Frisco today.

However, that could change if developments arise with Muecke's
wrist. He has not pitched since being hit by a line drive during the
April 6 opener against San Antonio.

PICK YOUR POISON?

Midland manager Von Hayes made an eyebrow-raising move during the
ninth inning of Wednesday's game. With Josh Anderson on second with one
out, Hayes opted to intentionally walk Hunter Pence to pitch to J.R.
House.

While that's the high-percentage move to set up a possible double
play, House is the leading hitter in the Texas League, entering
Thursday's game with a .407 average. The move paid off for Hayes, as
House hit into an inning-ending double play.

"I was thinking the same thing (about House)," Clark said. "But that
late in the game, you've got to do that. It's the right plan."

It was the first --- and likely not the last --- intentional walk
for Pence this season.

"It's good to have a guy like that behind me because he's going to
hurt them," Pence said.

CHEERING FOR CHANCE

The Hooks were in enemy territory on Thursday, but starting pitcher
Chance Douglass probably felt at home. The Amarillo native had a
cheering section of family and friends sitting behind the Corpus
Christi dugout that made the roughly four-hour trip to watch him
pitch.

MOUND MATCHUPS

The Hooks will send out a rotation of five right-handers for their
series at Frisco. Josh Miller will start tonight's opener, followed by
Juan Gutierrez, Matt Albers, Mitch Talbot and Chance Douglass. Frisco
is expected to counter with righty Thomas Diamond, lefty John Danks and
righties Nick Masset, Juan Diaz and Armando Galarraga.